New values based rugby programme launched to meet demand

A new community programme that teaches Coventry schoolchildren the core values of rugby has been launched following record engagement.

Engage! is a values based education programme designed to improve children’s understanding of the core values of rugby - teamwork, respect, integrity, enjoyment and discipline, at school on the sports field, at home and in their local community.

Between January and July this year, the programme is being delivered to more than 1,400 Year 4 pupils across 26 schools in Coventry, following a successful pilot. Schools can also book onto the programme for September and the 2017-18 academic year and have until 30 May to register their interest.

Two hours of learning are delivered around each value per week – one hour of classroom learning about each of the core values, followed by an hour of outdoor tag rugby to link the values and rugby together.

Hosted by Coventry Sports Foundation, Engage! is funded by the Millerchip Family Fund and is part of Coventry’s ten year sports strategy to provide positive experiences through sport.

Tom Clift, Programme Manager at Engage! Coventry, said:

The aim is to reach more than 80 primary schools in Coventry over the next two years to continue the great work that was delivered last year.

The Engage! Values Programme is developed by teachers and sports coaches and forms a part of the OFSTED framework around Character Education, so we’d urge as many schools as possible to sign up to this.

Introducing youngsters to this programme will help to make them rounded individuals so that not only are they acquiring the necessary knowledge in core subjects, but they are also developing into healthy, well-rounded and confident people.

We also hope that by continuing to introduce children to rugby in a fun and creative way, they will develop a longstanding interest in the game, which bodes well for Coventry’s aim to become a world leader in every level of the sport by 2023.